You're reading: Spokesman Peskov says Putin told Obama Savchenko can not be released

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin has told U.S. President Barack Obama on the phone that the request to release Ukrainian national Nadia Savchenko from custody would interfere in the judicial proceeding and therefore is impossible, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.

“The president has explained the matter many times; explanations have been given both to foreign colleagues and at other levels that this is a judicial proceeding and any external interference in the jurisdiction of our courts is inadmissible. It is impossible,” Peskov said, answering a question of the media.

“It is impossible to offer any opinions or to do anything else until the judicial proceeding is over and a sentence is handed down,” the press secretary said.